It can happen again, but again, it is only a dream. Ypu may not be as shaken next time, but even if you are it will pass in minutes and if you really analyze the fear you will realize how grateful you are to still be an ex-smoker. In some ways it can reinforce your resolve even though it is so irritating when it happens.

Anyway, I wish you sweet dreams, but even if your dreams aren't always sweet, your waking state will be greatly enhanced as long as you never take another puff!

i know how scary that dream can be. i wake up and feel so upset withself because i could have sworn i had a cigarette in the middle of the night!!!! i actually get up and start looking to see if i did buy any!!!

i just think its very interesting so many people have this in common when they quit. it helps to know you are not the only one. thanks for the good posts!

Thanks Joel! And thanks Geo for pointing me toward this post. I feel better now and won't mind more dreams of smoking as you were right......when I awake and discover it was only a dream it's very SWEET! Onward, Dionne 3W & 3D

thanks hun... just wish it wasnt so darn life-like!!!!! i actually have been having cravings all morning long after "smoking a pack of cigarettes" in my dream GRRRR well that gives me new meaning to the "you can smoke just one" lie, we tell ourselves occasionally... i cant even DREAM abt smoking "just one"

thanks for this post, Joel, I was badly in need of this about 10 days ago, when i couldn't log on. I dreamt i was smoking 3 nights in succession.....secretive smoking,( which i've never done, but then again i've never stopped before!) and always got caught and felt dreadful but had to carry on smoking. It really disturbed me....i wondered if my subconscious was leading me to the next puff and it may be inevitable that i smoke again. After all, I always knew i couldn't stop! I remembered that i had downloaded a lot of your stuff, so although i couldn't get onto the message board, i had plenty to read. This helped a lot. It was only the old addiction playing mind games with me, and perhaps it was good to be reminded of how horrible i now feel smoking. I know for sure that i need never take another puff...even if i want to.
Luv Pat

Joel...Thank you so much for posting the dream article...I've been thinking about it all day and now have a better understanding of it...glad[but not glad] others experience the same thing as it freaked me out...but all is good a bit grumpy..but no tears today so the sun is definetly shining!!! I'm being as positive as possible and I WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!!! Thanks Leslie

I'm hoping that pretty soon I'll completely quit (in my dreams) so that my dream world will match my reality. Yesterday I was having a pretty down day and was the first time I thought of smoking, but I DIDN'T...but then I think my subconscious got the better of me. Like you say though, I can be glad it was only in my dreams and when I'm awake I can remember to NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF. thanks again

I am bringing this one up for the cilia explanation, the random thoughts being addressed today, and for Jim who is still having trouble sleeping and coughing. Many of these concepts are covered here in the initial post and attached string. Everyone remember a thought or a dream is never going to cause a relapse. On a cigarette can do that. So no matter what your tricks your mind plays as long as your real life actions don't cooperate the thought will pass. The only action you need to take to stay free is to never take another puff!

That's a great article. Yes, those smoking dreams can be awful. During my first week I dreamt about smoking every night. It was always the same - I was smoking a cigarette as usually, relaxed etc, when i suddenly realized that I had quit and I shouldn't be smoking! It was as I had just forgot about it. I was so angry at myself in the dream that I had smoked. And I was so ashamed. I'm glad that my real life is different - no need to be ashamed, I can be proud of myself !!

Sweet dreams everyone,YQSTriinI have been Quit for: 1 Week 3 Days 15 Hours 38 Minutes 5 Seconds. I have NOT smoked 213, for a savings of $14.65. Life Saved: 17 Hours 45 Minutes.

Well folks... I had my first dream about smoking since my Quit!!Get this - I dreamt I was Elizabeth Taylor(!) who was dying, while smoking a cigar!! ????I have no idea what that meant!? The ultimate drama queen who dies from her addiction??Funny thing is I never did smoke cigars!? Still dreaming that smoking is glamorous!??Well at least I know it is not happening in reality and maybe its just my subconcious coming to terms - somehow - with the fact I'm NOT smoking - I like to think so.Thought I'd share this - it made me have a laugh at myself!Hang Tuff Freedom Familyyqs MazNEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!!One month, two weeks, two days, 1 hour, 50 minutes and 5 seconds of FREEDOM!!

That dream thing is just too funny. I have only actually had one dream since I quit, and I was just casually smoking in it. Then I woke up, in the middle of the night, and actually sat upright in bed. I was so scared and angry at myself! I thought I had blown it! lol
I remembered it was a dream, sighed a HUGE sigh of relief and went back to bed. I called my mom the next day and told her about it. (She has been quit for 2 1/2 years). I told her how guilty I felt about even having the dream. She laughed at me and told me I should have enjoyed it, because in my dreams is the only place where I will be smoking from now on!!!
Great Post Joel (as usual!!)
Thanks,
Jen

42 Days (Six weeks!!) I know everyone else is counting in months and weeks, but I prefer right now to count in days, for whatever reason????

Ahhh the smoking dream - I have not sent a message in quite some time. I am still smoke free and feeling better every day. Sometimes my surviving grace is the fact that I do dream of smoking. Just wanted to share and tell everyone - it actually will get easier. Keep smiling - breathing , dancing , walking, breathting, etc. Always, Monica

Thank you for this article Joel - I woke today with having had my first smoking dream last night - how weird that was - I even dreamed of having to explain to the family at Freedom - very bizarre - Thanks Mate -

Wow, this is amazing reading! Next time I have that dream, I'll know better! I too, woke up feeling freaked out that I had smoked and then, what a rush of relief to see that I'd been dreaming. The guilt is actually quite wonderful now. It has helped to re affirm my intention: to never take another puff! Thanks Joel for the explanation about the cillia also. This has been almost a daily scene for me ...coughing and spitting, Guess it's a good thing but sometimes my lungs feel heavy as if I smoked a bunch and I know I havn't so I'll feel more positive about recovery now. Thank YOU! Paula 36 days without a puff.

I had my first smoking dream since I quit (2 weeks and 1 day ago!). I dreamt that I found a pack of cigarettes in my purse - it had 4 Marlboro light cigraeetes. They are slightly crumpled but not broken. I touched them in my dream and thought that I cld smoke all 4 an dno one wld ever know. I was still debating what to do and how to do it when I woke up. That was fairly scary - knowing that if it were real, I wld have probably smoked them. Glad to know it was a dream but disappointed in even getting tempted.